FIA explains the shocking Lawson-Marshall incident in Mexico and confirms no fault for the Racing Bulls driver. The FIA has clarified the dramatic incident between Liam Lawson and two track marshals.

The FIA has issued an official clarification regarding the shocking incident involving Liam Lawson and two track marshals during the Mexican Grand Prix. The episode, which occurred on lap three at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, nearly ended in tragedy and has prompted the Federation to launch an internal investigation to determine what went wrong and to review its safety procedures.

After making contact with Carlos Sainz’s Williams on the opening lap, Lawson had returned to the pits for repairs. When he rejoined the track, double yellow flags were being displayed due to debris scattered across the first corners. As the New Zealander approached Turn 1 in his Racing Bulls car, two marshals suddenly ran onto the circuit to clear pieces of carbon fibre, crossing directly in front of his trajectory. Only the driver’s lightning-fast reactions prevented a potentially catastrophic impact.

“I almost killed a marshal,” Lawson shouted over the radio, clearly shaken by what had just happened. The frightening moment sparked widespread concern in the paddock and drew immediate reactions across social media.

Lawson and the track marshals: the FIA’s official statement

After issuing a brief initial comment immediately following the race, the FIA released a more detailed statement on Friday evening. “Any situation where marshals find themselves on track in front of moving cars is something we never want to see,” the statement read. “It is only natural that an incident like this raises concern and prompts discussion.”

The Federation confirmed that its internal investigation is still ongoing. “It is fortunate that the incident did not have serious consequences,” the statement continued. “We are currently gathering and synchronizing all evidence, including multilingual radio communications and telemetry data, to understand exactly what happened.”

From the analysis of the telemetry, the FIA confirmed that Lawson acted properly throughout the incident. “We can confirm that the driver of car #30 slowed down appropriately and reacted correctly to the double yellow flags, braking earlier than in previous laps and taking Turn 1 at a significantly lower speed than during racing conditions. Lawson bears no responsibility for what occurred,” the Federation emphasized.

The FIA also expressed its appreciation for the volunteers and marshals, highlighting their essential contribution to motorsport safety. “We wish to thank the marshals and volunteers for their professionalism and dedication. Without them, our sport could not exist,” the statement concluded.

The Mexican Grand Prix episode has reignited the debate over coordination between race control and track marshals in emergency situations. Despite the positive outcome, the near-miss revealed how narrow the margin for error in Formula 1 can be, and how operational safety must always remain the top priority.

The FIA confirmed it will share the full results of its investigation once the analysis is complete. In the meantime, Lawson has received full support from the Racing Bulls team and fellow drivers, who have praised his quick reflexes and composure during a potentially disastrous moment.